Radioiodine Treatment - CCDHB
Radioiodine Treatment
Patient Information
Radiology Department ¨C Nuclear Medicine
What is Thyrotoxicosis?
This is a general term for diseases of the thyroid gland
in which the thyroid produces too much thyroid
hormone.
Thyroid hormone is needed for many body processes,
however excess of this hormone means the processes
tend to run too fast. This can produce many symptoms
including rapid heart rate, muscle tremor, bowel upsets,
undue sensitivity to heat and dry, sore eyes. Commonly
the condition results in weight loss and exhaustion.
What are the treatment options?
There are three main options:
? Surgery, where part of or all of the thyroid is
removed
? Drugs that block the effects of the excess hormone
? Treatment with radioiodine
What is radioiodine?
Iodine is found in many foodstuffs and is an essential
part of our diet. The thyroid extracts iodine from the
blood and uses it as raw material to make thyroid
hormones.
Radioiodine is a short lived radioactive form of iodine,
and is chemically the same as dietary iodine. This means
radioiodine is extracted into the thyroid in the same
way, with up to 80% of the radioiodine concentrated in
the thyroid within a few hours.
How does radioiodine work?
Radiation from the radioiodine prevents some of the
thyroid cells from functioning correctly. A fraction of
the cells eventually die off, which reduces the
production of thyroid hormone. This can correct your
Thyrotoxicosis.
Like surgery, radioiodine treatment is a permanent fix.
Unlike surgery it is quick and painless, usually only
requiring a single outpatient visit.
Is radioiodine suitable for me?
Allergies to iodine are not a barrier to treatment. The
amount given is so small, it is not enough to produce an
allergic reaction. If you have had, or currently taking any
CapitalDoc ID: 1.8679 | Issue date: Aug 2015 | Review date: Aug 2018
of the following they may affect your treatment, and
need to be discussed with your doctor:
? Thyroid medication
? Some types of health food, particularly kelp tablets
and some dietary supplements
? Some types of X-ray contrast dyes
? Some types of heart and blood pressure medication
Please bring a list your medication with you when you
come for treatment.
I am or am trying to get pregnant
Can I take radioiodine? If there is any possibility that
you are pregnant it is unlikely that we will give you
radioiodine treatment. This is because the baby¡¯s
thyroid would also receive radioiodine at the same time
as yours. This could affect the baby¡¯s thyroid function.
If your are not sure whether you are pregnant, or are
trying to get pregnant or trying to father a child,
please tell your doctor or a Nuclear Medicine staff
member before treatment.
This therapy does not effect fertility.
In most cases we advise avoiding pregnancy for six
months after radioiodine therapy. Men wishing to
father a child should wait for a period of four
months.
I am breastfeeding. Can I take radioiodine?
Once you have taken radioiodine a small amount will be
present in your breast milk and could affect the
function of your baby¡¯s thyroid. Also, while you are
lactating the breasts will concentrate large amounts of
the iodine. For these reasons you will either have to
defer your treatment, or stop breast feeding for 4-6
weeks before any therapy. You may not resume
breastfeeding for that child. Nursing may be resumed
with the birth of another child.
Does radioiodine have any side-effects?
? The doctor who requested the radioiodine will
arrange for you to have a blood test at a later date
to assess the effectiveness of treatment.
? Your thyroid gland might stop functioning entirely
following treatment. If this is the case it is likely you
may be required to begin taking a tablet call
Page 1 of 3
[continued]
?
?
?
Thyroxine on a daily basis to supplement your
hormone level.
You may notice a dry mouth or mildly tender
thyroid for a time after treatment but this will
disappear in a few days.
Thyroid disease can affect your eyes, and
radioiodine treatment has been known to worsen
this effect for a short time. Your doctor may
prescribe drugs to prevent this.
If you already have symptoms from your thyroid
disease these may be worsened for a short period
after treatment. Your doctor may advise some
additional medication during this time.
Are there other risks I need to consider?
The risks of using radioiodine are similar to the risks for
ordinary x-rays. As some of the radiation escapes from
your thyroid, there is a slight risk to people close to you
if you do not take precautions for a few days after
treatment. However the risk is very low. This treatment
has been used for over 50 years, and no measurable illeffects from the radiation have been reported.
The radioactivity clears quite quickly and most has
disappeared in a few days but it takes much longer for it
to have an effect on your thyroid cell numbers.
This is not an instant cure; the process will take many
weeks so you should see a slow but steady
improvement.
We do take particular care to avoid exposing young
children or anyone who is pregnant. This is because
children and babies are more sensitive than adults to
radiation, so we adapt a more cautious approach.
Can I expose other people to radiation after my
treatment?
1. Some of the radiation from the radioiodine shines
from your body-just like x-rays
If you are close to other people they will be exposed to
this radiation. In practical terms, if people are more
than one or two metres away, the intensity is so low
that it can be ignored.
2. Your thyroid uses only part of the radioiodine, the
rest is eliminated from your body
Most of the excess radioiodine is eliminated in the first
few days through your urine and a very small amount is
eliminated through sweating and nasal secretions.
CapitalDoc ID: 1.8679 | Issue date: July 2015 | Review date: July 2018
The radiation dies away naturally so while you may
need to take some precautions to avoid exposing
others, this is usually only for a few days after
treatment
What precautions do I need to take following
radioiodine treatment?
As everyone is different, the precautions you need to
take should fit your circumstances. These will be
discussed with you before your treatment however
there are some general things you need to consider.
Time away from work
You may need to take a few days off work after the
treatment. It is difficult to say exactly how long since it
depends on the nature of your work and the amount of
radioiodine your doctor has prescribed for you, but
most people will need somewhere between three and
six days off work. This time can be reduced if you work
on your own.
Our usual day for administering radioiodine therapies is
Thursday afternoon, so for most cases you will be able
to return to work on the following Monday or
Wednesday.
Care of Children
If you are taking care of very young children at home, or
someone in your household is pregnant then you may
need to make arrangements to reduce their exposure to
radiation. If this applies to you please discuss this with
your doctor prior to your treatment.
Sleeping Arrangements
You should sleep apart from partners (e.g. sleep in a
spare room or on a temporary bed) to minimize the
amount of radiation they receive. This can be from 2 to
7 days after treatment, depending on the amount of
radioiodine that has been prescribed for you. Avoid
children sleeping in your bed.
Attending public functions
You should not be attending any public meetings, going
to movies or shows or taking long (more than five
hours) trips on public transport for a few days after
treatment since you could find yourself close to others
for a long time.
Page 2 of 3
[continued]
Shopping
You will be able to go shopping and make short trips on
public transport since these will not involve extended
periods close to others.
Pets
There are no risks to pets from the radioiodine, so you
do not need to make special arrangements for their
care.
Food and drink
We would advise you to drink a little more fluid than
usual for the first two days after treatment. This helps
to clear any excess radioiodine from your body. Other
than this you can eat and drink normally after
treatment, and alcohol will not affect your treatment
Hygiene
A small amount of radioiodine comes out in your
perspiration and nasal secretions over the first few days
after treatment. Some will get on your clothes
(particularly underclothes), sheets, towels and
handkerchiefs.
To eliminate any possible risk to others for the first
three days after treatment:
? Make sure no-one else uses your towels and
wash your towels, sheets, underclothes and
handkerchiefs separately from other laundry
? Do not handle food that other people may be
eating
? Do not share cutlery and dishes with other
people
Toilet arrangements
Any radioiodine not used by your thyroid is cleared by
your kidneys as body waste. This means your urine is
slightly radioactive for two to three days after your
treatment. You will not notice this, but it can be a
potential risk to others.
Ensure that any urine spills are promptly wiped up,
men should urinate sitting down to minimise possible
spills or splashing. After using the toilet, flush at least
twice. If there are urine spills, clean up with toilet
paper and dispose of this in the toilet, then wash your
hands.
Existing health problems
If you have other health problems, particularly
problems with urinary incontinence, or suffer from
frequent nausea and vomiting please discuss this with
your doctor. We may need to make some special
arrangements for your treatment
What happens afterwards?
You will be sent an appointment to have a blood test
about four weeks after treatment, and an appointment
to see the endocrine doctor. If you do not receive these
please contact the appropriate endocrine unit.
Sometimes your doctor will prescribe further treatment
to bring your thyroid fully under control. In this case
you may be need a further dose of radioiodine
In the long term your thyroid may become under-active
after treatment. This will make you feel rather sluggish
and sleepy. If this does happen your doctor will
probably advise taking additional thyroid hormone in
tablet form to top up your level.
Who do I contact for more information?
The best source of information is your own doctor.
If you need additional advice you may contact:
Wellington Endocrine Unit on 04 806 2140
or
Hutt Endocrine Unit on 04 566 6999 extension 8299
Contact us
Phone: (04) 806 2193
Hours: 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday
Email: radiology.admin@.nz
Email: radiology.admin@.nz
CapitalDoc ID: 1.8679 | Issue date: July 2015 | Review date: July 2018
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